Sifter-top for cans.



E. HULL.

SIFTER TOP FOR CANS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25. 1907.

Patented Mar. 1,1910.

2 SHEETS-43113111 1.

' INVENTOR Bit ng Hull ATTORNEYS E. HULL. v SII'TEB. TOR FOR CANS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 25. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Patented Mar. 1, 19m.

EDWIN HULL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SIFTER-TOP. FOR CANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. ll, 191W Application filed January 25, 1907. Serial No. 354,620.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN HULL, a cit-izen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sifter-Tops for Cans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in that class of metal cans which are provided with a removable cover arranged over a perforated sifter-top fixed over the mouth of the can, such Sifter-top being provided with a perforated closing and opening plate or disk which is adapted to be oscillated upon a stud or pivot for opening or closing the holes or perforations in the Sifter-top. In the usual practice of making these sifter-tops for cans, and the like, the movable and perforated disk or plate is formed upon its marginal edge with an arrangement of three small lips which serve as fingerpieces for moving the disk or plate back and forth upon the central stud or pivot; but, usually these lips are so small that it is with difliculty that the disk or plate can be moved, and there is often great danger of breaking the edge of the fingernail in trying to manipulate the disk or plate by means of any one of said small lips.

My present invention has for its principal object to provide a novel sifter-top having a pivoted or swinging element, made in the form of a handle, which is connected with the perforated closing or opening disk or plate, for the purpose of moving said disk or plate back and forth upon the stud or post.

A further object of this invention is to provide in connection with the sifter-top of the can, and its movable disk or plate for opening or closing the holes or perforations in said top, a swinging element or member, in the form of a handle, which is made to conform with the general contour of the upper face of the pivoted closing and opening disk or plate, so as to be capable of being folded or laid down upon the said upper face of the disk or plate, and being i made of thin metal, takes up but very little space within the interior of the removable cover of the can, and does not interfere with the placing of the main closing cover upon the main body of the can, and over the sif ter-top thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sifter-top for a can or the like, in which the pivoted opening and closing disk shall be free from any objectionable projections extending from the marginal edges of the said opening and closing disk; and, furthermore, to provide a very simple and neatly constructed device which shall be capable of efficiently serving the various purposes for which it is intended.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly mentioned will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the usual can or receptacle provided with a sifter-top, embodying the principles of the present invention, the sifter-top being inclosed by the removable top or cover of the can; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the body of the can, the lower portion of which is broken away, and said view showing in elevation the main cover raised, so as to expose to view the Sifter-top of the can, and showing in its raised and operative position the element or member for producing a rotative movement of the opening or closing disk or plate. Fig. 3 is a plan or top View, on an enlarged scale, of the sift-er-top, showing the various parts in their normal initial positions, with the operating element or handle in its folded or laid-down position; and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the sifter-to-p but illustrating the operating element or handle raised for turning the perforated opening or closing plate or disk into one of its sifting positions, this position, and that of the handle, being indicated in dotted outline in said Fig. 41. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section, taken on line 5-5 in said Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a similar section, taken on line 6-6 in said Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical section of one of the hinge-connections of the perforated opening and closing disk or plate and the end-portion of the handle rotatively arranged in the same; and Fig. 8 is a perspec tive view of said operating element or handle. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a fiattop sifter-top provided with a fiat opening and closing disk or plate and a correspondingly formed operating element or handle operatively connected in the manner of the present invention with the upper flat face of said perforated disk or plate. 'Fig. 10 is a top view of a siftertop, embodying the principles of the present invention, the perforated closing and opening disk or plate, in this construction, being made upon its marginal edge with an upwardly extending and preferably curled holding lip or extension with which a portion of the operating element or handle can be forced in separable frictional holding engagement; and Fig. 11 is a transverse section, taken on line 11l1 in said Fig. 10.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the referencecharacter 1 indicates the body of the usual metal-can or receptacle, in which is placed a powder, such as a face or talcum powder, and 2 indicates a sifter-top for the body of the can or receptacle, through which some of the powder is to be sifted as required for use. The upper open portion of the can or receptacle 1 is usually made with an annular bead 3, forming a shoulder slightly beneath the upper marginal edge which surrounds the mouth of the can or receptacle. The sifter-top, as will be seen from the several figures of the drawings, comprises a main body or portion 5, the same being surrounded by an annular and downwardly extending flange (3, by means of which the said body is fitted over the upper open portion of said can or receptacle 1 and can be made to rest upon said annular bead 3, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. \Vhen the siftertop 2 has in this manner been arranged and secured over the upper open portion of said body or receptacle 1, a metal cap or cover at, of the usual construction can be arranged over said sifter-top, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive, it will be seen that the main body-portion 5 of the sitter-top is made with a centrally disposed and downwardly extending annular portion 7, which surrounds the central and upwardly convexed or dome-shaped part 8 of said body 5, as will be more clearly understood from an in spection of Figs. 5 and 6 from the drawings. This convexed or dome-shaped part is provided with any number of suitably disposed holes or perforations 9, and suitably secured at its middle is a stud or pivot 10, upon which is rotatably arranged an opening or closing disk or plate 11. This disk or plate 11 is also provlded with a suitable number of holes or perforations 12 which can be made to register with the holes or perforations 9 in the dome-shaped part 8, by properly rotating said disk or plate ll upon the stud or pin 10, when it is desired to shake some of the contents from ceptacle l, as will be clearly uiulerstood. The said disk or plate 11 has pivotally connected with its upper surface an operating element or member 13, which is usually made in the form of a handle, and can be closed or laid-down upon the upper surface of said disk or plate 11 when not in use, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and (i of the drawings, but may be moved into an upright position, as indicated in Figs. Q, i: and 5 of the drawings, for moving the said opening or closing disk or plate back and forth upon its stud or pivot 10. One means of operatively connecting said operating element or handle 13, in a hinge-like manner upon said disk or plate 11, is b 1 means of a pair of hinge-lugs or eyes l-l which are forced out of said plate or disk 11, substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 3, 4. 5 and 7 of the drawings, the said operating element or handle 13 being formed with a pair of outwardly extending pintle-members 15 at. each end, said pintle-members being adapted to be sprung beneath the said hinge.lugs or eyes in such a manner that the said op erating element or handle 13 is pivotally connected with the said disk or plate 11 for moving the same upon its stud or post 10, as will be clearly evident. As shown more particularly in Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings, the main body-portion of the said operating element or handle 13 is bent so as to conform to the outer convex face of the said disk or plate 11 when closed down upon the latter, thereby taking up very little room and not interfering with the placing of the cover t upon the upper end-portion of the can or receptacle 1 so as to int-lose the sifter-top within said cover 4-, when the device is not in use.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings, the referencecharacter 16 indicates a flat top sitter-top which is to be arranged in the usual manner upon a body or receptacle 1, said top 16 being provided upon its upper fiat face with a centrally disposed stud or pivot 17 by means of which is pivotally arranged upon said top, a flat sifter disk or plate 18, as shown. This disk or plate 18 is also provided with a. pair of pintle receiving lugs or eyes 19 in which are arranged and oscillate therein the pintle members or endportions 21 of a flat operating element or handle 20 usually made from thin sheet metal.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, I have shown in connection wi 'h the opening and closing disk or plate 11 and its operating element or handle 13 a means for holding or retaining the said handle in said body or re- I its closed position upon the upper surface of said disk or plate. This means, consists, essentially, of an upwardly extending or preferably curled retaining lug or tongue 22, which is formed'upon a portion of the marginal edge of said disk or plate 11, and with which the edge-portion 23 of said element or handle 13 can be forced into frictional holding engagement for retaining said element or handle in its closed or lowered position in the manner clearly indicated in Fig. 11 of the drawings. For producing a rotative movement of said disk or plate 11 upon its stud or pivot 10, the said handle is readily disengaged from its frictional engagement with said retaining lug or tongue 22, the handle then being used substantially in the same manner as previously described. When it is desired to operate the disk or plate 11 without bringing the said handle 13 in an upright position, which is possible by applying pressure sidewise upon the said tongue or lug 22, the said handle may be provided with a hole or perforation 24, as shown, which registers with one of the said holes or perforations 12 in the disk or plate 11, substantially as shown in said Figs. 10 and 11, so as not to interfere with and reduce the sifting perforations or openings.

From the foregoing description of my present invention, it will be clearly seen that I. have devised a simple and practical means for easily and quickly bringing the opening or closing disk or plate into its sifting relation with the perforated part 8 of the body 5 of the Sifter-top; or, for completely closing the said holes or perforations in said part 8.

I claim:

1. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a perforated part, a perforated opening and closing plate movably arranged above the perforated part of said main body, and an operating element for moving said plate, said operating element being adapted to extend above the upper surface of said plate for use and to be folded down upon said surface when not in use, and means on said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A Sifter-top comprising a main body having a perforated part, a perforated opening and closing plate movably arranged above the perforated part of said main body, and an operating element for moving said plate, said operating element being adapted to extend above the upper surface of said plate for use and to be folded down upon said surface when not in use, and a curled tongue extending upwardly from the marginal edge of said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be plate when not in use,

brought in holding engagement for retain ing said element in its folded-down relation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a perforated part, a perforated opening and closing plate niovably arranged above the perforated part of said main body, hinge-lugs connected with said plate, and a handle having pintlemembers extending into said hinge-lugs, and means on said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a perforated part, a perforated opening and closing plate inovably arranged above the perforated part of said main body, hinge-lugs connected with said plate, and a handle having pintle-members extending into said hinge-lugs, and a curledv tongue extending upwardly from the marginal edge of said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought-in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down relation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a centrally disposed depression formed with a convexed or dome-shaped part provided with perforations, a correspondingly formed convex opening and closing plate movably arranged over said domeshaped part, and an operating element for moving said plate, said element being adapted to extend above the upper surface of said plate for use, and said operating element having its faces made to conform to the curvature of the convex opening and 010s ing plate, so as to be folded directly upon and register with the upper convex face of said plate when not in use, and means on said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a centrally disposed depression formed with a convexed or dome-shaped part provided with perforations, a correspondingly formed convex opening and closing plate movably arranged over said domeshaped part, and an operating element for moving said plate, said element being adapted to extend above the upper surface of said plate for use, and said operating element having its faces made to conform to the curvat-ure of the convex opening and closing plate, so as to be folded directly upon and register with the upper convex face of said and a curled tongue extending upwardly from the marginal edge formed with a convexed or of said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down relation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a centrally disposed depression formed with a convexed or dome-shaped part provided with perforations, a correspondingly formed convex opening and closing plate movably arranged over said domeshaped part, hinge-lugs connected with said plate, and a handle having pintle-members extending into said hinge-lugs, and means on said plate with which aportion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a centrally disposed depression dome shaped part provided with perforations, a correspondingly formed convex opening and closing plate movably arranged over said domeshaped part, hinge-lugs connected with said plate, and a handle having pintlemembers extending into said hinge-lugs, and a curled tongue extending upwardly from the marginal edge of said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element 111 its folded-downrelation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. A sifter-top comprising a main body having a centrally disposed perforated part, a central stud extending upwardly from said perforated part, a perforated opening and closing plate rotatively connected with said stud, hings-lugs on said plate, and a handle having pintle-members extending into said hinge-lugs, and means 011 said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. A Sifter-top comprising a main body having a centrally disposed perforated part, a central stud extending upwardly from said perforated part, a perforated opening and closing plate rotatively connected with said stud, hinge-lugs on said plate, and a handle having pintle-members extending into said hinge-lugs, and a curled tongue extending upwardly from the marginal edge of said plate with which a portion of said operating element can be brought in holding engagement for retaining said element in its folded-down relation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of January, 1907.

EDXVIN HULL.

Witnesses FREDK. C. F RAENTZEL, FREDERICK J AMISON. 

